Northern Iowa Tight End Parker Sutherland Dies

The 19-year-old freshman played in four games for the Panthers in 2025.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Northern Iowa announced that tight end Parker Sutherland, a 19-year-old freshman from Iowa City, Iowa, died on Saturday morning. Sutherland appeared in four games for the Panthers football team in 2025 before his sudden passing.

Why it matters

The death of a young student-athlete is always a tragic event that impacts an entire university community. Sutherland's passing will be deeply felt by his teammates, coaches, and the Northern Iowa athletics department.

The details

According to reports, Sutherland collapsed during a workout on Thursday, and emergency responders were called to the UNI Athletics facilities. No further details about the cause of his death have been released. Sutherland was a second-team all-state player at Iowa City High School as a senior in 2024 before joining the Northern Iowa football team.

  • Sutherland collapsed during a workout on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • Northern Iowa announced Sutherland's passing on Saturday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Parker Sutherland

A 19-year-old freshman tight end for the Northern Iowa football team who passed away suddenly.

Todd Stepsis

The head coach of the Northern Iowa football team.

Megan Franklin

The athletic director at Northern Iowa University.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm heartbroken. No words can express my condolences to [parents] Adam, Jill and [sister] Georgia. Parker embodied everything we look for in a UNI Football Panther. His talent and potential excited us on a daily basis, but it failed to compare to the type of person and teammate he was. His character, humility, toughness and genuine love of others are what champions are made of. While I'm saddened that our time together was short, we will celebrate the bright light that he brought to our football team for the rest of our lives.”

— Todd Stepsis, Head Coach, Northern Iowa Football (Northern Iowa Athletics)

“It is a heartbreaking day for our Panther Athletics family with the passing of Parker Sutherland. He embraced the opportunity to play Panther football and represent the university through sport. We are devastated — just devastated. The blessing is that we have a Panther family who will hold the Sutherland family, our football team, and our athletics staff close as we grieve.”

— Megan Franklin, Athletic Director, Northern Iowa University (Northern Iowa Athletics)

What’s next

The university has not yet announced any memorial plans or services for Parker Sutherland. The cause of his death is still under investigation.

The takeaway

The sudden loss of a young student-athlete is always a tragic event that resonates throughout an entire university community. Parker Sutherland's passing will be deeply felt by his teammates, coaches, and the Northern Iowa athletics department as they grieve this heartbreaking loss.